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Disney World and Disneyland News, Tips, Crowds and Attraction information from The Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World and DisneylandSun, 02 Aug 2015 11:00:40 +0000en-UShourly1http://wordpress.org/?v=4.2.3A Review of Disney World’s Top of the World Loungehttp://blog.touringplans.com/2015/05/04/review-disney-worlds-top-world-lounge/
http://blog.touringplans.com/2015/05/04/review-disney-worlds-top-world-lounge/#commentsMon, 04 May 2015 10:00:50 +0000http://blog.touringplans.com/?p=89444By Sarah Graffam

Disney World’s Top of the World Lounge is an upscale bar combining spectacular views of the sunset followed by spectacular views of Magic Kingdom’s Wishes Nighttime Spectacular fireworks show. Perched high atop Bay Lake Tower, the Disney Vacation Club resort that is the counterpart to Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Top of the World Lounge is close to Magic […]

My husband and I recently had a chance to visit Top of the World and invite you to come along for a peek at this exclusive Walt Disney World spot. Why exclusive? Because access to Top of the World Lounge is open only to Disney Vacation Club members (and their guests) staying at a Disney resort.

Whether or not a visit to Top of the World Lounge is likely in your future, why not have some fun getting an inside look at one of the best lounges in Disney World.

Sunset view from Top of the World Lounge

Fireworks view from Top of the World Lounge

Ambience

To gain access to the lounge, DVC members must first show proof of membership to a Cast Member at a podium in the Bay Lake Tower lobby and then are escorted to an express elevator that takes them to the 16th floor of the Tower.

Upon exiting the elevator, guests go through a covered area past an outside observation deck and then inside to the bar and lounge. Top of the World Lounge features outside observation decks at the back and front of the resort, with the deck facing Magic Kingdom providing lots of space to watch Wishes.

The lounge itself has a modern vibe that reflects the style and ambience of Bay Lake Tower and the Contemporary in a setting of classy neutral tones. With several tables (including some high tops), cozy seating areas, and chairs at the bar, there is seating for approximately 75 guests. Behind the bar is a hint of the view outside, with a bank of windows featuring a mural of a speeding monorail.

In addition to the seating in the main room, there is a small side room with banquette seating, two small tables, and a curtain to pull for privacy. A party of 9-10 can have their own secluded gathering here. Another great feature of this room is several very nice art prints showing scenes of Tomorrowland.

When it comes time for Wishes, the lights are dimmed and Wishes music can be heard both inside and outside the lounge on the observations decks. Although many tables have a view of the fireworks, guests often temporarily abandon them for the more immersive experience of viewing Wishes from the observation deck.

Food

Top of the World Lounge features a small menu of light appetizers and snacks. We were happy to sample them all, which were reasonably priced from $8-12.

BLT flatbread

First up was the Bay Lake Tower BLT flatbread (with brie, bacon jam, tomato, and arugula). Let me tell you, lately Disney has mastered the art of flatbreads, and Top of the World’s version had an added touch of sophistication. The smoky flavor of the cheese balanced well with the bacon jam and tomato. This was the dish at Top of the World Lounge that I would definitely order again.

Beef sliders

Less impressive were the Beef Tenderloin Sliders. Although the bread and meat were well seasoned and well complemented by Boursin cheese and caramelized onions, the meat was slightly tough. The horseradish crème served on the side was mostly crème, with none of the kick expected from horseradish.

The Florida Rock Shrimp Salsa featured avocado and crispy plantain and was loaded with whole shrimp. This dish, served in a small bowl and with tortilla chips, had a mild to medium spiciness. I thought it could use a bit more acidity but appreciated the generous portion of shrimp.

Rock shrimp salsa

Last for the appetizers was the nicely presented soft pretzels with two dipping sauces, a spicy-sweet cream cheese and a mustard dipping sauce. The pretzels were served nice and hot. They were well salted, and I appreciated that I had a glass of water on hand. Although both dips were good, the cream cheese dip was the clear winner at balancing out with the salt of the pretzels.

Pretzels with two dips

For dessert, Top of the World offers a seven layer cake with salted caramel sauce. This delicious cake has layers of chocolate cake, yellow cake, mousse, and ganache. Yum! It is definitely large enough to share with a few good friends.

Fun fact: Top of the World Lounge is partners with The Wave … of American Flavors restaurant at the Contemporary. Food is prepped at the Wave, then finished in a kitchen below the lounge and delivered up to the lounge via a dumb waiter system.

Drink

In addition to Disney’s standard menu of bar drinks, Top of the World Lounge offers several signature drinks, including three signature cocktails and two non-alcoholic specialties. A few of the drinks use a piña colada mix among their ingredients, including Monorail Yellow, the Tip Top Colada, and the non-alcoholic Little Monorail.

My husband found the Bay Lake Sunset cocktail, mixed with vodka, rum, pineapple juice, and grenadine, pleasant but too sweet for a second go-round. I went with the Maschio Prosecco Veneto, which was a great complement for all of the appetizers (and excellent with the seven layer cake).

Our server noted that because Top of the World offers many of the wines and beers available at the Wave at the Contemporary Resort, it has a larger selection than many Disney World restaurants.

Crowd Flow

Top of the World Lounge’s current hours are 6 PM to midnight. Seeing Wishes is the main reason that many people, especially families, visit the lounge, and so we were not surprised to find just a few people in the lounge and on the observation decks when we arrived just after 6 PM. On a typical night when Wishes is at 10 PM, our server said the lounge remains fairly quiet from 6-8:30 PM or so and things really start to pick up around 9-9:30 PM. On the night we were there, it was wonderful to enjoy the pre-Wishes quiet. Several tables were available up until about 9 PM, around 9:30 PM all but one table was occupied and there were a few seats at the bar, and at 9:40 PM all seats were taken.

Access to Top of the World Lounge remains one of the very best perks of being a DVC member. A quiet spot to enjoy some appetizers and drinks can be a rarity in Disney World. Just be ready for a few more people to join you around the time of Wishes. Please share your experience if you have had the chance to enjoy being at the Top of the World!

Looking for a way to make a special meal at a Disney World restaurant even more magical? How about something to commemorate a birthday, anniversary, proposal, or milestone? If so, this Chocolate Glass Slipper Dessert may be just what you’re looking for! What is it? It’s a perfectly royal way to satisfy your sweet tooth and […]

Looking for a way to make a special meal at a Disney World restaurant even more magical? How about something to commemorate a birthday, anniversary, proposal, or milestone? If so, this Chocolate Glass Slipper Dessert may be just what you’re looking for! What is it? It’s a perfectly royal way to satisfy your sweet tooth and to celebrate a special occasion at Disney World. It consists of a chocolate shell shaped as Cinderella’s famous glass footwear, along with a few other sweet compliments and a personalized message tailored to your celebration. Find out how to order the Chocolate Glass Slipper Dessert for your next special event at Disney World.

Chocolate Glass Slipper Dessert

Location

This sweet, fairy tale treat is only available at a few locations at Disney World, such as Cinderella’s Royal Table at the Magic Kingdom and restaurants at both the Contemporary Resort and the Grand Floridian Resort and Spa.

When I ordered my chocolate slipper, I was told that Grand Floridian restaurants offer a white chocolate slipper filled with whipped cream, a small chocolate mousse, and raspberry coulis. Cinderella’s Royal Table, however, offers both chocolate and white chocolate slippers to choose from filled with chocolate mousse and with a serving of fresh fruit.

Keep in mind that these details can change at any time, or could’ve changed already, so be sure to ask your Cast Member for what is being offered when you call. Also, if you are not given a preference of whether you would like a chocolate or white chocolate slipper, specify when you order, especially if you are planning this dessert for a reservation at Cinderella’s Royal Table.

Review

Now when I first heard about this dessert, I knew I had to try it for myself! My family and I were going to be at Disney World for my parents’ anniversary and so I planned to order this sweet treat as a grand finale to our special family dinner at the Grand Floridian Cafe. Unfortunately, there’s not a lot of information out there about how to order the chocolate slipper, or even how much it would cost. Needless to say, I was kind of in the dark; but in the end, I spoke with a Cast Member at the Disney Cake Hotline who explained what locations offered the dessert, how it differed depending on the location, and how much it would cost. After explaining what message I would like written on the plate and dealing with payment, I was told that my chocolate slipper would be at the Grand Floridian Cafe in time for our special meal.

Towards the end of our dinner on the night of my parents’ anniversary, I privately reminded our waitress at the Grand Floridian Cafe that I had ordered a chocolate slipper. I was glad I did because she didn’t seem to be aware. This was probably because the chocolate slipper dessert is ordered and paid for apart from the Grand Floridian Café. Fortunately, it wasn’t much of an issue. She checked and found that it had arrived and was ready in the kitchen to be brought to the table when we were ready.

During your visit, I would suggest mentioning your chocolate slipper order when you arrive for your dining reservation, just to make sure that your waiter/waitress knows and so that they can bring out this special dessert at the right moment!

While my parents enjoyed the dessert, there was enough for me to have a little sampling of each treat presented on the plate too; and needless to say, I was not disappointed! The white chocolate slipper wasn’t hollow, like I expected it to be, but solid, delicious chocolate. Also, the chocolate mousse was light and creamy and not too rich. The raspberry coulis turned out to be the perfect compliment to both flavors of chocolate; and while we hated to ruin the intricate, chocolate stamp of the castle, we just had to taste that too!

We liked the fact that there was the dessert wasn’t all solid chocolate, but rather offered a variety of flavors and textures. If everything on the plate had been solid chocolate, that would’ve been too much. The presentation was impressive as well. This wasn’t a pre-fabricated dessert that Disney just threw on a plate. For example, the writing on the plate was carefully written and the little hearts in the shaped raspberry coulis was perfectly done!

Overall, the Chocolate Glass Slipper Dessert was the perfect ending to my parents’ anniversary dinner and I would definitely order it again. In fact, I’m almost tempted to order it during my next visit to Disney World for no reason at all!

Ordering

Before you call, I would strongly suggest booking a dining reservation at the restaurant of your choice before you order the chocolate slipper. A reservation number may be required upon ordering and you need to make sure that a table at your restaurant is guaranteed for the time you ordered the dessert.

Also, keep in mind that the Chocolate Glass Slipper Dessert is not included on regular restaurant menus, so don’t expect to see it under the listed desserts or being able to order it at the end of your meal. Instead, you must order through the resort restaurant of your choice beforehand at least 48 hours in advance. To order the chocolate slipper for your dining reservation at the Contemporary, you can call 407-824-2955. However, if an elegant meal at the Grand Floridian is on your agenda, call 407-824-1951 for this Cinderella-inspired dessert. You can also order through the Disney Cake Hotline at 407-827-2253 anytime from 7:00 AM to 9:00 PM all week long.

When placing your order, remember that you can include a personalized, edible message written on the edge of your plate!

Note: The chocolate slipper is also used in the Glass Slipper Proposal Package at Cinderella’s Royal Table. If a storybook proposal is what you have in mind, call the special events team for more info about creating this fairy tale moment at 407-824-4477.

Price

The Chocolate Glass Slipper Dessert currently costs $15, which I think is a reasonable price for a special, personalized dessert at Disney World. It is not included with the Disney Dining Plan and must be paid for ahead of time when you place your order.

Would you order the Chocolate Glass Slipper Dessert? If you’ve had it before, what did you think of it?

It can be easy sometimes to forget just how much there is to do outside of Disney World’s four theme parks and two water parks. With so much contained within the parks, it might not even cross some guests’ minds that you could actually spend a whole Disney World vacation without ever going to the […]

It can be easy sometimes to forget just how much there is to do outside of Disney World’s four theme parks and two water parks. With so much contained within the parks, it might not even cross some guests’ minds that you could actually spend a whole Disney World vacation without ever going to the parks. Although I personally wouldn’t suggest skipping the parks entirely, you could do it and still have a great vacation. Maybe it’s the last day of your vacation or maybe you just want to explore the property a little to see what else Disney has to offer. With that in mind, here are just a few of the many things to see and do without ever having to pay for a park admission ticket.

Golf

Disney World wouldn’t be much of a resort destination without golf. With three courses (four if you include the onsite Four Seasons course) and one nine-hole walking course, there’s a wide variety of play options for fans of the sport. Even if you think you’re terrible at golf or you’ve never tried before, this is a good place to start. Resort courses are notoriously less punishing than most courses (people don’t need a stroke on vacation) and even if you do play horribly, at least you’re still in Disney so you can’t be that upset. If the full-fledged sport still seems like too much of an undertaking, Disney also offers two thematically different mini golf courses. Fantasia Gardens (located near the Boardwalk) is themed after its namesake film and even features a more traditional putting green course for those who want to just work on their short game. Winter Summerland Miniature Golf is located at Blizzard Beach and has two courses themed after winter and summer. For those concerned about having to purchase a water park ticket to play here, no need to worry. The mini golf course may be located at Blizzard Beach but it’s actually outside of the Blizzard Beach entrance.

Enjoy all the options the Sammy Duvall Watersports Centre has to offer! Photo courtesy of Disney (c)

Watersports

You can rent boats at multiple on property resorts but if you want all that Disney has to offer as far as watersports go, check out Sammy Duvall’s Watersports Centre at Contemporary Resort. There’s a wide variety of activities available for rental depending on how adventurous you’re feeling that day. You can rent a two-person boat and make your way around Seven Seas Lagoon and Lake Buena Vista or you can even go wakeboarding. Or if you’re really evil, tell your friend you’re going to go tubing and then at the last second change the reservation to parasailing. I’m sure they won’t mind.

Resort Hopping

This one’s pretty simple. Always wondered what the lobby of the Wilderness Lodge is really like but don’t want to pay deluxe resort prices to stay there? Just go visit. While there aren’t resort to resort busses at Disney World, just take the bus to the park that’s closest to the resort you want to visit then hop on their bus at the park. You can do this for pool hopping too but over the years they’ve gotten pretty strict about only allowing guests of that particular resort to swim in the more popular pools like Stormalong Bay at Beach Club. I would definitely recommend resort hopping even more if you’re visiting during the holidays to see the decorations.

Downtown Disney

I think a lot of people skip Downtown because they assume it’s just a place to shop but that’s just one aspect of it. (Ed. – I’ve seem the crowds at Downtown Disney – I don’t think ANYONE is skipping it.) If you love going to the movies, the AMC theater at Downtown Disney is really nice. The seats are comfortable and if you want more than just popcorn or candy, they offer dine in theaters where you can have servers take your drink or food orders at any point during the movie. If bowling is your thing, Splitsville is fairly new and is definitely not your stereotypical bowling alley. If you like video games – both new and classic, hit up Disney Quest. You can go see La Nouba at Cirque du Soleil if you’re into that kind of thing, and if parasailing didn’t scare you off heights already, you can even go up in a hot air balloon. This is all before the planned revitalization/rebranding into Disney Springs that is currently underway so expect even more reasons to go here in the near future. TouringPlans recommends taking Disney transportation to Downtown Disney as parking and traffic during the construction can be daunting.

Food/Drink

For many guests visiting the restaurants are as big a part of the fun as experiencing the attractions, and Disney has plenty of options at a range of price points (Ed. – yes, from somewhat expensive to really expensive) . Whether it’s at the Boardwalk, Downtown Disney or any number of Disney resorts, the best restaurants at Walt Disney World are nearly always found outside the parks. While I could write a whole article on the best places to eat and drink, you’ll definitely be able to find most any kind of food that you might be craving. Personally, I’d do dinner at California Grill during the Magic Kingdom fireworks then hop over to Downtown Disney to drink the rest of the night at Raglan Road, which is by far the best bar on Disney World property.

I know I didn’t come close to naming all there is to see and do at Disney World outside of the parks but these are just some of my personal favorites. I’d love to hear some of your favorites though. Leave a comment and thanks for reading.

This week’s SATURDAY SIX takes a look at Six Reasons We Love Disney’s Contemporary Resort. After examining some of the value resorts on Disney property, including Pop Century and Art of Animation, it’s time to head straight to the top of the WDW resort food chain and see the benefits a deluxe resort brings to the table. […]

This week’s SATURDAY SIX takes a look at Six Reasons We Love Disney’s Contemporary Resort. After examining some of the value resorts on Disney property, including Pop Century and Art of Animation, it’s time to head straight to the top of the WDW resort food chain and see the benefits a deluxe resort brings to the table. First stop, The Contemporary. As a long time Disney fan, I have wanted to stay at The Contemporary since I was a little kid, but my parents always booked hotels off-site to save money. As an adult planning my own trips, I would often price out a stay at The Contemporary, only to end up choosing a cheaper alternative myself. I’m not a big fan of the cliche you only live once, but if there is one thing I have learned in life, it’s that the biggest regrets are not doing things when you have the chance, because those opportunities may not be around forever. So whether it was philosophical reasons, or the fact that I felt the awesome Contemporary Resort Monorail Toy Accessory was taunting me, I decided to fulfill a near lifelong dream and book a stay at The Contemporary this year.

Now that it is crossed of the bucket list I can report back that…. I loved it. The stay confirmed several things I thought The Contemporary would be like, and opened my eyes to amenities I did not know much about before. Today we are going to countdown six takeaways from my experience, starting with…

# 6 – A Million Dollar View

View from Disney’s Contemporary Resort.

The views from The Contemporary A-Frame building are spectacular. One side faces Bay Lake, the other faces the Magic Kingdom. Waking up in the morning we could see Disney’s Polynesian Resort Village, the Grand Floridian, the monorail passing by, ferry boats in the lake, the Walt Disney World Railroad, and not to mention the Magic Kingdom itself, with icons such as Cinderella’s Castle and Space Mountain. I’ve stayed at on-site hotels at various theme park resorts, and hotels across the United States including Las Vegas, Boston, San Diego, Times Square, and Hawaii, but this was the most amazing view I have ever had. I was able to enjoy fireworks and the Electrical Water Pageant, two of my favorite things at WDW, from the room. I was speechless. I knew it would be good. I didn’t know it would be this good.

Photo taken from on the bed in a room at Disney’s Contemporary Resort.

Electrical Water Pageant as seen from Disney’s Contemporary Resort.

# 5 – A Short Walk to the Magic Kingdom

Those who have read the SATURDAY SIX for a while know how much I love the on-site hotels at Universal, especially the Royal Pacific Resort. One of my favorite things about them is how convenient they are when it comes to traveling to the theme parks. I could be in my room at the RPR, and be at the front gate of Islands of Adventure in less than 10 minutes. The biggest surprise of my stay at The Contemporary was that I could walk to the Magic Kingdom in the same amount of time. Even better, I could walk back to the hotel. By far the most frustrating part of going to the Magic Kingdom – for me – is leaving at the end of the night and facing long lines at the monorail or ferry dock. At The Contemporary, I just walked back to the room. I’m not even sure I walked because I was so happy, I think I may have skipped back to the room. Now, there is no theming like the lush walkways at Universal, and there is also an intersection with a red light, but I timed the walk several times and, even waiting for the walk signal at the intersection, it never took longer than 12 minutes.

Walkway from Disney’s Contemporary Resort to the Magic Kingdom.

Walkway from Magic Kingdom to Disney’s Contemporary Resort.

# 4 – Chef Mickey’s

My family and I did several character meals during our stay, including breakfast at Cinderella’s Royal Table, but our favorite overall was Chef Mickey’s, located inside The Contemporary. The menu is not winning any Michelin stars, but what you are paying for is access to the characters and here you get the Fab Five of Mickey, Minnie, Goofy, Donald Duck, and Pluto. What stood out for us was the quality of time we got with the characters, as several of the other character meals we had felt rushed. We also loved the chef outfits they were dressed in. Brian McNichols, my co-host of the Pardon the Pixie Dust podcast, wrote a review of Chef Mickey’s with a similar experience. Another review worth reading is from Tom Bricker, of the Disney Tourist Blog.

Chef Mickey’s,

Chef Mickey’s, before the madness.

A long time iconic figure of Disney, beloved by men, women, and children across the world. Also pictured, Donald Duck.

# 3 – Mary Blair Artwork

What can I say, I’m a sucker for Mary Blair artwork and her minimalist designs. One of the signature features of The Contemporary is the gigantic 90 foot mural featuring Blair’s artwork in the Grand Canyon Concourse. I found myself looking at the mural from the ground, and then going up to several floors to get a different view. It’s absolutely stunning. I love Mary Blair’s art style, I love her use of color, and I love that this mural is made out of tiles making a larger than life mosaic. To me, this is Disney magic, something you are not going to find anywhere else.

Mary Blair artwork in Disney’s Contemporary Resort.

Mary Blair’s 5 legged goat.

# 2 – The Wave/California Grill

The Contemporary has not one, but two restaurants worth going out of your way to eat at. The first restaurant, The Wave…of American Flavors, has one of the most visually unique lounges WDW, and offers a menu based around organic and sustainable food. I came away very impressed, to the point where The Wave is going to become my new go-to place for a quick lunch and drinks when I spend a day at the Magic Kingdom. The second restaurant, California Grill, is one of the signature dining experiences on property. One of my favorite restaurants at WDW is ‘Ohana, and I love that when the Magic Kingdom has a nighttime fireworks show, the lights in the restaurant will dim and guests have an opportunity to see the Magic Kingdom. One of the things I discovered at California Grill is that they have an even better view. Overall one of the most beautiful restaurants I have eaten in, a good menu, and tremendous service.

The Wave.

California Grill.

# 1 – There’s a Monorail Going THROUGH the Building!

Staying at The Contemporary I saw the monorail coming through the building at least 50 times. Maybe 150. It may have even been 500 times as I lost count, but here’s the thing: it never got old. In fact, with almost child-like wonder, I was drawn to looking at the monorail each and every time it passed by. For all its faults, I consider the Disney monorail system to be one of the most special things on property. I think it separates Disney from every other theme park, and is just as cool and unique today as it was 40 years ago. When I was a kid coming to Disney World, we would take the monorail from the TTC and, when passing through The Contemporary, I would always say, “Wouldn’t it be great to stay here?”

Well, now I can say I finally did stay “here” and it was great.

“I’ve sold monorails to Brockway, Ogdenville, and North Haverbrook, and, by gum, it put them on the map!” – Lyle Lanley

HONORABLE MENTION: The Contemporary Signature Monorail Dessert

I love outrageous snacks, and one of the most unique foods I have seen on Disney property is TheContemporary Signature Chocolate Monorail, available exclusively at the hotel. Disney’s description in the room service menu: One of our Disney icons done in white chocolate served with gourmet truffles ($45.00). This was absolutely amazing and The Contemporary Resort logo on the plate was also done in chocolate.

As a fan of pressed coins, seeing this bank of machines at The Contemporary saw my heart grow three sizes. I expect by the time you read this article, each and every one of these machines will be selling only Frozen related designs.

Pressed coin machines at Disney’s Contemporary Resort.

So there you have it: Six Reasons We Love Disney’s Contemporary Resort. We’ll see you next weekend for the latest edition of the SATURDAY SIX, where we are going to get head back over to the Universal Orlando Resort. If you had fun, be sure to check out The Magic, The Memories, and Merch! articles, or, for your listening pleasure, check out the Pardon the Pixie Dust podcast.

Special thanks to crack staff photographer Brandon Glover for his invaluable assistance with this article. Despite wearing a NY Yankees cap, I promise deep down he’s a good guy.

Recently I had family staying at Disney’s Contemporary Resort for a week, and I joined them for one night to check out the Atrium Club Level experience. I have stayed Club Level at several of the Universal hotels, including the Royal Pacific Resort and Portofino Bay, and have always enjoyed it, so it was time to […]

Recently I had family staying at Disney’s Contemporary Resort for a week, and I joined them for one night to check out the Atrium Club Level experience. I have stayed Club Level at several of the Universal hotels, including the Royal Pacific Resort and Portofino Bay, and have always enjoyed it, so it was time to see what Disney provides. I’ve priced out options at staying Club Level at the Polynesian and Animal Kingdom Lodge before, but eventually get scared off by the price and ended up booking a room at value resorts like Art of Animation or Pop Century. For this stay I booked a Club Level room with the Special Offer: Passholder Room Offer for Late Summer discount. The total was $616.79 for one night. Was it worth the cost? Let’s check it out….

View from the shared area of the Atrium Club Level.

I was definitely impressed by the entire Contemporary experience as a whole. After arriving at the guard gate, we were directed to front of the hotel where the valets and bell service greeted us by name. Afterwards we were met by a concierge Cast Member with an iPad by the front door, and she took us straight up to the 12th floor, where the Atrium Club Level is. There are two Club Level floors at the Contemporary: the Atrium level with standard rooms on the 12th floor and the Tower level on the 14th floor, which also has guest suites.

A member of the Atrium concierge staff met us at the elevator on the 12th floor and first walked us over to the lounge area to see the view of the Magic Kingdom (see photo above). There is no denying this was stunning. I then went back with him to the desks by the elevator to start my check in procedure.

Check in desk at the Atrium Club Level.

We were given a customized packet that included a map of the Contemporary, the times guide for the lounge food and drink offerings, a tip sheet on MyMagic+, the Contemporary newsletter for September, and a printed out sheet that contained all of our FastPass+ reservations. The print out of the FastPass+ reservations was pretty cool, and that sheet also would have had any on-site Advance Dining Reservations if we had made any. I’ve stayed onsite at Disney many times and have not seen this before.

Packet of information from the Contemporary.

The Room.

After staying at Pop Century recently, the first thing that stood out to me walking into my room at the Contemporary was how big it seemed. The two main differences I could spot between our room on the Atrium Club Level and my family’s room on the seventh floor was that one of our pillows had a Mickey Mouse design on it and our TV had a DVD player connected to it. Other than that, the two rooms seemed exactly the same.

Guest room on Atrium Club Level.

Towel art.

The desk area was nice, if compact, and it’s hard to complain about lack of available outlets in the room, considering the hotel was built over 40 years ago, long before each guest had 15 things to plug in. I thought the rooms looked great, and they definitely had a certain asthetic value.

Desk area in guest room on Atrium Club Level.

The bathrooms were spacious, and while the dual sinks looked incredible, they were not very practical. The design of the sinks made it so that water stayed in them for a while. The sinks were probably the most “kid friendly” part of the room: they enjoyed splashing around in them.

Bathroom sinks are great if you are under 10. Over 10? Not as much. They look fantastic, though.

The bathrooms did have a box with a toothbrush and tube of toothpaste, along with another one containing a shower cap. This was a great touch because I invariably always forget my toothbrush at home and end up going downstairs to the lobby at midnight to ask if they have any available.

Toothbrush, toothpaste, and shower cap. Gratis.

Our room was only a couple doors down from the Atrium lounge, so the view was pretty much the same: absolutely spectacular.

The room my family had on the seventh floor was on the same side of the Contemporary as our room, but it was a couple more rooms away from the center of the building than ours. The view is still incredible, though.

After we return from the parks that night, there were Contemporary-branded mints on our bed. That was a great surprise.

Mints from Disney’s Contemporary Resort.

Besides Magic Kingdom fireworks, we also had a great view from the room of the Electrical Water Pageant. This is one of my all time favorite things at Disney.

Electrical Water Pageant as seen from the Contemporary.

Electrical Water Pageant as seen from the Contemporary.

One last thing before we get to the lounge offerings: the room service menu for the Contemporary is surprisingly large. There were breakfast, lunch/dinner, dessert, overnight, and alcohol options. 10 pages worth! One thing that caught our eye was on the Special Occasion Amenities page. We got the Contemporary Signature Chocolate Monorail. One of our Disney icons done in white chocolate served with gourmet truffles ($45.00). This is hands-down one of the coolest things I have ever seen at any hotel. It’s hard to see in the pictures, but on the plate is a picture of the Contemporary resort that I thought was stenciled on; it turns out it was also chocolate. Absolutely amazing!

Contemporary Signature Chocolate Monorail.

Contemporary Signature Chocolate Monorail.

The Atrium Club Level Lounge

In stark contrast to the bedroom, the biggest surprise I had when seeing the lounge area was how small it was. To be fair, I am comparing it to the Club Level lounge offerings at the Universal hotels, which are much bigger. There is a slanted wall dividing two common areas. One side has all the food and drinks, along with a couple tables. The other side has a bunch of more tables, couches, and a flat screen TV.

Next to the food counters there was a smaller table designed with children in mind, along with another flat screen TV that was constantly playing either Disney channel cartoons or the in-house Must Do Disney loop with Stacey J. There was nothing else for children.

This TV was always playing either Disney channel cartoons, or the Disney Must Dos.

The Club Level concierge Cast Memers are available from 7:00AM – 10:00PM daily, and you can also communicate with them via text message. I tried the texting feature, and it worked flawlessly. The food and beverage offerings are broken down into four groupings throughout the day, with coffee selections being available the entire time. We’ll now go through some of the snack offerings…

Coffee (6:30AM – 10:00PM)

Continental Breakfast (7:00AM – 10:30AM)

Breakfast was probably the most satisfying overall, as there were more than enough selections for everyone.

The chocolate milk is small bottles of Nesquik.

Where are the donuts?!!!

I was hoping these were coffee cake muffins, but they were apple muffins.

Cereal.

Steel cut oatmeal.

Lite Bites (11:30AM – 4:00PM)

The early afternoon selections – including cookies and gummy bears – were definitely geared towards kids, which I found a little strange because nothing else on the Atrium Club Level seemed to be designed with kids in mind. I did enjoy the yogurt covered pretzels, but it would be hard to justify these options being a lunch alternative for a family.

Cookies, goldfish, and gummy bears.

Potato chips.

Cookies, assorted nuts, yogurt covered pretzels, and fruit.

Contemporary Flavors (5:00PM – 7:00PM)

The “dinner” options were definitely a step up, with a mix of vegetables, cheese and crackers, rolls, and some cooked foods. The peanut butter and jelly sandwich option was interesting as you had small cups with a mixture of pb&j in them and slices of bread nearby. I thought it was visually interesting, but maybe it just doesn’t take all that much to impress me.

Ranch dressing and hummus to dip the various vegetables in.

Cheese and crackers.

Cups of peanut butter and jelly on the left, slices of bread on the right.

These vegetable spring rolls were very good.

Wine selections.

Bud Light, Heineken, Sam Adams and Yeungling are added to the fridge.

Cordials and Desserts (8:00PM – 10:00PM)

High marks for creativity here. While the serving sizes were pretty small, you could get as much as you wanted of anything, and all the choices were terrific. I loved the presentation of the apples slices and caramel, and you can’t go wrong with dessert shots.

The Check-In Process – This was by far and away the most personal and easiest check-in procedure I have ever had at any hotel. The valets and everyone greeting us by name throughout were nice touches.

Turndown Service – Coming back from the park to find the bed made up and the chocolates by the pillows was great.

Free Parking – All Disney-owned hotels offer free parking, but this is worth pointing out to people who stay at Universal or other off-site hotels, many of which charge for parking.

Concierge Staff – This group of men and women were incredible across the board. Even the texting service worked exceptional. As a surprise for my family, I had pre-ordered some cupcakes and a cake from Babycakes NYC, and the staff kept it in a refrigerator until delivering it to our room. The cupcakes were for my girlfriend, who is vegan, and the cake was for the kids with us who were going to Cinderella’s Royal Table the next morning. They were both a big hit, and the kids were excited that Cinderella baked a cake for them.

Cupcakes from Babycakes NYC.

A cake from Babycakes NYC.

While Babycakes NYC was formerly located in Downtown Disney; it is now off property but creates desserts for many locations across Walt Disney World property and can deliver items to anyone staying on-site at WDW. You contact them online by clicking here or by calling 1-407-938-9044.

Atrium Club Level Weaknesses –

Not Exactly “Kid Friendly” – The Contemporary is a great place for kids, with a fun pool and Chef Mickey’s, but there isn’t much for kids of any age in the club level rooms or the lounge. The club levels at the Universal hotels have games and toys for kids to play with, along with a TV. The Contemporary just had a TV, and the only people who could watch it for all intents and purposes were the ones at the small table in front of it.

The Bathroom Sinksand Vanity Area – This look great but are really poor in a practical sense. If you want to pour your coffee or soda out in to the sink you will also have to spend a bit of time to get it all down the drain. There is also very little space in-between the sinks to put anything.

The Beds Were “OK” at Best – In my mind the Contemporary should have a world class mattress compared to a place like Pop Century, and instead I would say they are almost exactly the same. The overall room looked fantastic, and the bed was comfortable enough, but the mattress, itself, felt cheap.

The Overall Selection of Food and Beverage in Lounge Was Minimal – The presentation was unique, and some of the items were really good, especially the desserts, but overall it’s hard to find value in the food and beverage options. While your family could definitely put together a breakfast in the morning, you are going to have to find a different place for lunch and dinner, even if you stop by the lounge for snacks. We found ourselves going down to Contempo Cafe to get food and then returning back up to the lounge to eat it in front of the gorgeous view of the Magic Kingdom.

While I would consider the lounge in general to be small, it was never packed with people at any of the times I was there. When any of the food items started to run low, the staff was quick to replace them with more.

FINAL THOUGHTS – I thoroughly enjoyed my time at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, but everything that I loved about it you can get in a cheaper priced room and just skip the Atrium Club Level amenities. I’ll be doing an article on the overall Contemporary experience, and there are some very compelling reasons to stay here despite the insanely high price tag. The walk over to the Magic Kingdom was much shorter than I thought it would be and is about the same walking time as it is from Universal’s Royal Pacific Resort to Islands of Adventure. I probably saw the monorail come in and out of the Contemporary 40 times just in the one day I was there, and it never got old. The arcade was huge. The gift shops were tremendous. Being able to see the Magic Kingdom fireworks and the Electrical Water Pageant from the hotel was fantastic. Is it worth $615 (after tax) for one night? No, but I’m not thinking $300-$400 for a regular standard room with a theme park view is crazy anymore. The Contemporary was special, and now when I price out the Polynesian or Animal Kingdom Lodge, my chances of saying “Yes” to the price just went way up.

We’ve given you the basics about Disney resort pools in general and the specifics about the pools at the value and moderate level hotels. The series concludes with an in-depth look at the pools at the Walt Disney World deluxe and villa resorts: Animal Kingdom Lodge and Villas, Boardwalk Inn and Villas, Contemporary Resort and […]

We’ve given you the basics about Disney resort pools in general and the specifics about the pools at the value and moderate level hotels. The series concludes with an in-depth look at the pools at the Walt Disney World deluxe and villa resorts: Animal Kingdom Lodge and Villas, Boardwalk Inn and Villas, Contemporary Resort and Bay Lake Tower Villas, Grand Floridian, Old Key West, Polynesian, Saratoga Springs and Tree House Villas, Wilderness Lodge and Villas, and the Yacht & Beach Club and Beach Club Villas.

How many pools are there? There are two large pools at the Animal Kingdom Lodge, the Uzima pool at the main Jambo House, and the Samwati Spring pool in the Kidani Village villas area. There is no “quiet pool” area at the Animal Kingdom Lodge.

What is the pool themeing? The African wilderness.

What’s the kiddie pool situation? There are traditional kiddie pools in both the Jambo and Kidani pool areas. Additionally, Kidani has a large interactive water play area intended for children under 48″ tall.

Are there water slides? Yes, both pool areas have water slides. At Kidani, there is a small slide, appropriate for preschoolers, as well as a larger slide for older children. At Jambo, there is one large water slide.

Is there a nearby playground? Yes. There are playgrounds near both the Jambo and Kidani pool areas.

What’s the nearest food option? The Maji bar next to the Kidani pool offers drinks and very limited number of cold sandwich options. The Uzima Springs bar next to the Jambo pool offers drinks and a small selection of packaged snacks. The Mara quick service restaurant, with complete food offerings, is steps away from the Jambo pool.

Are there showers at the pool? Yes, there are restrooms with lockers and shower adjacent to both the Jambo and Kidani pool areas.

Are there hot tubs? Yes, there are hot tubs at both the Jambo and Kidani pool areas.

Are there towels available at the pool? Yes, towels are available at both pools.

How deep is the pool? The Jambo pool is four feet, ten inches at its deepest point. The Kidani pool is four feet, eleven inches at its deepest point.

Are there zero entry pools available? Yes. The main pools at both Jambo and Kidani have zero entry access.

Are poolside cabanas available? No.

Are there poolside activities? Yes. There are activities at both the Jambo and Kidani pools. Schedules may vary seasonally, but recently there were planned events from 1:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. every afternoon, plus a movie under the stars in the evening. Events may include: Bingo, Wild Trivia, Frisbee Toss, Giant Jenga, Chalk Art, Musical Rings, and others. Weather permitting, there is a free campfire with s’mores.

Anything else? The two sections of the Animal Kingdom Lodge are a substantial walking distance apart. Guests with preschool and elementary age children may prefer the pools at Kidani Village due to the appealing children’s water play area. Different evening movies are shown at the Jambo and Kidani areas. Feel free to view whichever film is more appealing to your family. The schedules for both will be available at the front desk.

How many pools are there? Three. The main feature pool is called Luna Park. There are also two smaller “quiet pools,” one each on the Boardwalk Inn and Boardwalk Villa sides of the resort.

What is the pool themeing? Atlantic seaside boardwalk, circa 1930.

What’s the kiddie pool situation? There is a traditional kiddie pool in the Luna Park area.

Are there water slides? The centerpiece of the Luna Park pool is a water slide fashioned to look like a wooden roller coaster. The slide exit features a GIANT clown mouth. The slide itself is fairly average, but the clown mouth has been known to frighten more than a few coulrophobes.

Is there a nearby playground? Yes. There is playground in the Luna Park area.

What’s the nearest food option? Leaping Horse Libations, adjacent to the Luna Park pool, offers drinks and basic cold sandwiches. There are no food options at the other pools.

Are there showers at the pool? Yes. There are showers at the Muscles & Bustles health club, adjacent to the Luna Park area.

Are there hot tubs? Yes, there are hot tubs near all three pools.

Are there towels available at the pool? Yes.

How deep is the pool? The Luna Park pool is four feet, ten inches at its deepest point. The other pools are five feet at their deepest point.

Are there zero entry pools available? No.

Are poolside cabanas available? No.

Are there poolside activities? Yes. Activities take place at the Luna Park pool. Schedules may vary seasonally, but recently there were planned events from 1:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. every afternoon, plus a movie under the stars in the evening. Events may include: Ping Pong Toss, Noodle Races, Duck Scramble, Hot Potato, Mr. Potato Head Relay, Ladder Golf, and others. Additionally, the Community Hall next to the Villas quiet pool offers other activities such as ping pong and board games. Weather permitting, there is a free campfire with s’mores. There are often hair wrap artists located at the main feature pool mid-day.

Anything else? Seriously, the clown pool is a big thing for some kids. If you’re thinking of staying at the Boardwalk, make sure your child has no fear of clowns.

How many pools are there? Three. Two at the Contemporary main building (one large feature pool and one nearby smaller quiet pool) and one at the Bay Lake Tower building. Signage indicates that amenities at Bay Lake Tower, including the pool, are restricted to BLT guests. No such signage exists on the main Contemporary side.

What is the pool themeing? Um, contemporary.

What’s the kiddie pool situation? There are no traditional kiddie pools, but there are children’s water play areas at both locations.

Are there water slides? Yes. There are medium-sized water slide at both the Contemporary and Bay Lake main pools. There is also a small slide, appropriate for preschoolers, at Bay Lake.

Is there a nearby playground? Not really. The nearby beach area provides a place for kids to run around, but there are no climbing structures.

Are there showers at the pool?Yes, there are showers in the restroom at the main Contemporary pool. There are no indoor showers at the Bay Lake pool.

Are there hot tubs? Yes, there are hot tubs in both locations.

Are there towels available at the pool? Yes.

How deep is the pool? The Contemporary main pool is four feet at its deepest point. The Bay Lake pool is four feet, six inches at its deepest point.

Are there zero entry pools available? Not at the Contemporary, but there is zero entry at Bay Lake.

Are poolside cabanas available? Yes, cabana rentals are available at the main Contemporary pool.

Are there poolside activities? Yes. Activities take place at both main pools. Schedules may vary seasonally, but recently there were planned events from 1:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. every afternoon, plus a movie under the stars in the evening. Events may include: Hula Hoop Games, Dance Party, Cup Stacking Challenge, Bingo, Chalk Art, Wacky Bowling, and others. Additionally, the Community Hall next to the Bay Lake pool offers other activities such board games. There is an outdoor billiards table at the Contemporary pool, as well as a volleyball net on the nearby beach. Ping Pong and shuffleboard are available at the Bay Lake pool. Weather permitting, there is a free campfire with s’mores.

Anything else? The marina next to the Contemporary pool offers numerous boating and water sports opportunities. While there are plentiful beaches here, there is no swimming allowed in the lake.

Contemporary, main pool

Contemporary, main pool, slide

Contemporary, main pool, hot tub in the center of the pool, beach area beyond

Contemporary, quiet pool adjacent to the main pool, additional cabana in the rear

How many pools are there? Currently two. The Courtyard pool is smaller and quieter. The Beach is larger, with interactive elements. When the new villas area opens, there may be an additional pool.

What is the pool themeing? Victorian beach.

What’s the kiddie pool situation? There is a brand new children’s interactive play area at the Beach pool, themed to Alice in Wonderland.

Are there water slides? Yes. There is a large waterslide at the Beach pool as well as a smaller slide integrated into the children’s water play area.

Is there a nearby playground? There’s no traditional playground, but there are beach and grassy areas where kids can run around.

What’s the nearest food option? The Beach Pool and Courtyard Pool bars offer drinks, as well as a selection of salads and hot and cold sandwiches.

Are there showers at the pool? Yes, the rest room nearest to the Beach pool includes lockers and showers.

Are there hot tubs? Yes, there is a hot tub near the Courtyard pool.

Are there towels available at the pool? Yes.

How deep is the pool? The pools are four feet at their deepest point.

Are there zero entry pools available? Yes, the Beach and Courtyards pools are zero entry.

Are poolside cabanas available? Yes, there are cabana rentals available at the Beach pool.

Are there poolside activities? Yes. Activities take place at the Beach pool. Schedules may vary seasonally, but recently there were planned events from 1:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. every afternoon, plus a movie under the stars in the evening. Events may include: Mickey Memory, Dance Party, Relay Games, The Claw, Candy Sink, Ring Toss, and others. There is a ping pong table near the Beach Pool bar.

Anything else? While the Grand Floridian sometimes has a reputation of being stuffy, children truly are welcome. Kids of all ages play in both pools. The Grand Floridian typically does not offer an evening campfire, but you’re welcome to head over to the Polynesian or Contemporary to enjoy the festivities there. While there are plentiful beaches here, there is no swimming allowed in the lake. The Grand Floridian is in the process of completing a Disney Vacation Club villa addition to the resort. Changes are ongoing during this construction.

How many pools are there? Four. One main feature pool and three smaller pools.

What is the pool themeing? The beach at Old Key West.

What’s the kiddie pool situation? There is a traditional kiddie pool at the main feature pool complex.

Are there water slides? Yes. There is a medium-sized slide at the feature pool.

Is there a nearby playground? Yes. There playgrounds adjacent to all the pools.

What’s the nearest food option? The Good’s To Go snack bar at the main feature pool offers drinks, as well as a selection of salads and hot and cold sandwiches. There is a snack bar at the pool in the Old Turtle Pond Road section of the resort. The Turtle Shack offer pizza and a limited selection of cold sandwiches. This venue is open seasonally. No food offerings are available at the other pools.

Are there showers at the pool? Yes. There are showers and lockers in the restrooms adjacent to the main feature pool.

Are there hot tubs? Yes, there is a hot tub at the feature pool.

Are there towels available at the pool? Yes, towels are available at the feature pool. They may or may not be available at the quiet pools.

How deep is the pool? The main feature pool is four feet at its deepest point. Other pools may be up to four feet, eight inches deep.

Are there zero entry pools available? No.

Are poolside cabanas available? No.

Are there poolside activities? Yes. Activities take place at the feature pool. Schedules may vary seasonally, but recently there were planned events from 1:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. every afternoon, plus a movie under the stars in the evening. Events may include: UnBirthday Party, Oversized Games, Jeopardy, Football Fun, Marvel Mayhem, Key West Treasure Hunt, and others. There are numerous craft and quiet game activities in the nearby community hall, as well as bike rentals. Weather permitting, there may be a free campfire with s’mores. Campfires are only a few days a week at OKW, check your resort schedule for details.

Anything else? Old Key West has a poolside sauna available for guest use.

How many pools are there? Two. The main feature pool is the volcano pool. A quiet pool is located on the other side of the Samoa building.

What is the pool themeing? Polynesian island.

What’s the kiddie pool situation? There is no traditional kiddie pool, but there is a children’s splash pad.

Are there water slides? Yes. There is a large slide coming out of the volcano.

Is there a nearby playground? There is no traditional playground, but the beach area provides a large place for kids to run around and play.

What’s the nearest food option? The Barefoot Pool Bar, adjacent to the volcano pool, offers drinks and a very small selection of packaged snacks. More food offerings are located inside the main building at Captain Cook’s quick service restaurant. There are no food offerings at the quiet pool.

Are there showers at the pool? Yes, there is a locker room with showers located under the volcano.

Are there hot tubs?No. The Polynesian is the only deluxe resort without a hot tub.

Are there towels available at the pool? Yes.

How deep is the pool? The pools are four feet, six inches at their deepest point.

Are there zero entry pools available? Yes. The main volcano pool is zero entry.

Are poolside cabanas available? Yes. Cabana rentals are available at the volcano pool.

Are there poolside activities? Yes. Activities take place at the volcano pool. Schedules may vary seasonally, but recently there were planned events from 1:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. every afternoon, plus a movie under the stars in the evening. Events may include: Hula Hoop Contests, Disney Trivia, Dance Parties, Chalk Art, and others. Weather permitting, there is a free campfire with s’mores.

Anything else? While there is no hot tub, one area of the pool, located near the slide drop point, is kept warmer than the rest of the pool. While there are plentiful beaches here, there is no swimming allowed in the lake.

Polynesian, zero entry end of the volcano pool

Polynesian, the outdoor rinse showers have unique themeing

Polynesian, children’s water play feature

Polynesian, volcano slide

Polynesian, volcano pool, waterfall feature

Polynesian, the beach area adjacent to the volcano pool offers views of the Magic Kingdom and other area resorts

How many pools are there? Six total, five at the main Saratoga Springs resort, plus one small quiet pool in the Treehouse Villas area. The main feature pool, High Rock Spring, is located in the Carriage House area. The Paddock area pool also has many interactive features.

What is the pool themeing? Off to the races.

What’s the kiddie pool situation? There is no traditional kiddie pool, but there are children’s interactive spray zones at the High Rock and Paddock pools.

Are there water slides? Yes. There are small and large slides at the High Rock and Paddock pools.

Is there a nearby playground? Yes. There are playgrounds next to the Paddock and Congress Park pools.

What’s the nearest food option? The On the Rocks pool bar, adjacent to the High Rock pool, offers drinks and a small selection of packaged snacks. For more substantial nearby food, go inside the main building to the Artist’s Palette quick service restaurant. The Paddock Pool has a snack bar offering drinks, salads, and hot and cold sandwiches. There are also breakfast food offerings at the Paddock pool bar. There are no food offerings at the other pools.

Are there showers at the pool? Yes. There are showers and lockers in the restrooms adjacent to several of the pools.

Are there hot tubs? Yes. There are hot tubs at all the Saratoga pools.

Are there towels available at the pool? Yes.

How deep is the pool? The Saratoga pools have a maximum depth of five feet.

Are there zero entry pools available? Yes. The High Rock and Paddock pools have zero entry access.

Are poolside cabanas available? No.

Are there poolside activities? Yes. Activities take place at the High Rock pool. Schedules may vary seasonally, but recently there were planned events from 1:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. every afternoon, plus a movie under the stars in the evening. Events may include: Bingo, Poolside Crafts, Courtyard Games, Name That Disney Tune, Critter Competition, and others. Additional activities may be available at the Community Hall behind the pool. Weather permitting, there is a free campfire with s’mores.

Anything else? This is a large resort. If you think you’ll want to spend a lot of time at the High Rock or Paddock pools, try to request a room nearby. The pool at the Treehouse Villas area is quite small and extremely quiet, Treehouse guests looking for more activity will want to head over to the main resort.

How many pools are there? Two. A main feature pool at the Lodge and a smaller quiet pool at the villas.

What is the pool themeing? Northwest Wilderness.

What’s the kiddie pool situation? There is a traditional kiddie pool adjacent to the main feature pool.

Are there water slides? Yes. There is one smallish slide at the main feature pool.

Is there a nearby playground? Yes. There is a playground on the beach near the marina.

What’s the nearest food option? The Trout Pass pool bar offers drinks and a small selection of packaged snacks. For more substantial fare, go inside to the Roaring Forks quick service restaurant. There are no food offering at the villas pool.

Are there showers at the pool? There are showers in the rest room at the health club, which is shares restrooms with the villas pool.

Are there hot tubs? Yes. There are hot tubs adjacent to both pools.

Are there towels available at the pool? Yes.

How deep is the pool? The pools have a maximum depth of four feet, six inches.

Are there zero entry pools available? No.

Are poolside cabanas available? No.

Are there poolside activities? Yes. Activities take place at the main feature pool. Schedules may vary seasonally, but recently there were planned events from 1:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. every afternoon, plus a movie under the stars in the evening. Events may include: Sand Soccer, Temporary Tatoos, Giant Board Games, Sand Castle Construction, Goofy Bingo, and others. Weather permitting, there is a free campfire with s’mores.

Anything else? The main pool features a working geyser. Look for it to erupt about once per hour. There are often hair wrap artists located at the main feature pool mid-day. While there are plentiful beaches here, there is no swimming allowed in the lake.

How many pools are there? Four total. The main Stormalong Bay pool is shared by the Yacht & Beach Clubs. There are three small quiet pools, one each at the Yacht Club, Beach Club, and Beach Club Villas.

What is the pool themeing? Elegant seaside resort, with a giant shipwreck in the middle. Stormalong Bay is the largest and most elaborate pool at Walt Disney World, encompassing three acres of water play. The section nearest the Yacht Club features a real sand bottom – perfect for castle building. Other areas include a “lazy river” for floating along on a raft or pool noodle, a swirling whirlpool, and calm soaking areas. Many consider it to be a mini water park.

What’s the kiddie pool situation? There is no traditional kiddie pool, but one area of Stormalong Bay is kiddie pool depth and very appropriate for toddlers.

Are there water slides? Yes, two. There is a small slide near the beach in the Stormalong Bay area, under the big ship. The large slide starts at the big ship; this is the largest water slide at a WDW resort.

Is there a nearby playground? There is no playground, but you will find plenty of beach space for kids to run around.

What’s the nearest food option? The poolside bar, Hurricane Hanna’s, was completely refurbished in early 2013. Hanna’s offers drinks as well as hot and cold sandwiches, as well as some substantial bar appetizers. Additionally, Beaches & Cream Soda Shop offers a full service menu of comfort food, and a takeout menu of ice cream treats. There are no food options at the other pools.

Are there showers at the pool? There are showers at the Ship Shape health club adjacent to Stormalong Bay.

Are there hot tubs? Yes, there are hot tubs located near all the pools.

Are there towels available at the pool? Yes.

How deep is the pool? The quiet pools are about four feet, six inches deep. Stormalong Bay is three acres big. The depth in some sections is just inches. The lazy river is approximately eight feet deep, the deepest area at any WDW resort pool.

Are there zero entry pools available? No.

Are poolside cabanas available? No.

Are there poolside activities? Yes. Activities take place at Stormalong Bay. Schedules may vary seasonally, but recently there were planned events from 1:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. every afternoon, plus a movie under the stars in the evening. Events may include: Chalk Art, Arts & Crafts, Disney Trivia, Pin Trading, Volleyball, and others. Weather permitting, there is a free campfire with s’mores.

Anything else? Stormalong Bay is largely considered to be the best pool on property. In order to prevent pool hopper overcrowding, cast members are very strict about checking guest identification. If you’re not staying at the Yacht or Beach Club (including the villas), then you’re not swimming at Stormalong Bay. There are often hair wrap artists located at the main feature pool mid-day. While there are plentiful beaches here, there is no swimming allowed in the lake. There is a Pick-A-Pearl kiosk located on the walkway next to Stormalong Bay.